Trainees told to work to rule
22 March 2013
LawCare has circulated an "anti-stress worksheet" advising trainees to work to rule.

Stress is a huge problem in the legal profession, but it's not entirely clear how adhering to the following advice will alleviate it:

"Inform your colleagues and secretary that you will be incommunicado for the first fifteen minutes of each day. And why not extend this another half hour or so to give yourself some quiet time to look through the post and email?" Indeed. And afterwards, why not head off to the loos with a copy of the sports pages tucked under your arm and cheerily inform your secretary you'll be back just before lunch?

"Take your full lunch break entitlement, and use it to get away from the office." You've got rights, haven't you?

"Aim to become known in the firm as someone who does not work late or take work home." Your colleagues will understand your need to watch Come Dine With Me every evening as they sit in a windowless data room covering your files for you.

"Did you often used to arrive early or stay late? Did you work weekends? You will no longer be doing this." Because you will no longer have a job. Particularly if you work for the likes of Cleary Gottlieb.

The key to a stress-free training contract

One irate Roffer bemoaned that "all the trainees at my firm are given this as an hour's training, and then given the leaflet to take and keep at their desks". Before taking an hour out of the middle of the afternoon to enjoy a hot bath and a large scotch and soda.